• This week marks the first this season for the SoCon in which there are multiple league games. Samford visits Western Carolina in a battle of 2-1 teams, while Mercer heads to ETSU and Chattanooga visits VMI seeking its first win of the season.

• Wofford coach Mike Ayers, now in his 30th year at the helm for the Terriers, is 199-136-1 at the school and 210-157-2 for his 33-year career. Wofford will attempt to secure No. 200 for Ayers at the school on Saturday against Gardner-Webb.

• Three league teams are nationally ranked this week, with Wofford leading the way at No. 9 in both the FCS Coaches Poll and the STATS FCS Top 25 after an idle week. The Citadel moved up to No. 10 in both polls, while Samford remained steady at No. 17 in the coaches poll and dropped one spot to 18 in the STATS rankings after falling at FBS No. 13 Georgia.

• Chattanooga, which dropped its third straight game to open the season, fell out of both polls from No. 15 following its 21-7 loss to UT Martin. That snapped the Mocs’ streak of 51 straight FCS Coaches Poll appearances, dating back to Nov. 4, 2013. The Citadel now has the longest active streak in the SoCon with 23 straight appearances, dating back to Nov. 2, 2015.

• A SoCon team has ranked either first or second nationally in rushing in 16 of the last 17 seasons. The Citadel led the FCS with 348.2 yards per game on the ground last year and is second this season at 380.0 yards per game.

• All three of the league’s conference games this season have been decided by one possession. Since the start of the 2013 season, 57 of 127 (.449) league games have been decided by one possession.

• Western Carolina running back Detrez Newsome leads FCS in all-purpose yards per game (217.00) and rushing yards (461). He is second in rushing touchdowns (five) and rushing yards per game (153.7). The senior ran for 146 yards and two scores in a 42-27 win at Gardner-Webb on Saturday.

• Furman placekicker Grayson Atkins converted all three field goal attempts and his only extra point try in accounting for 10 of Furman’s 16 points in Saturday’s loss at NC State. The freshman gave Furman an early 3-0 lead with a 46-yard field goal and later added field goals from 34 yards and a second effort from 46 yards. Atkins has gone 5-for-6 on field goals and leads Furman in scoring with 22 points through three games.

• Mercer acquitted itself nicely at FBS No. 15 Auburn, trailing by just one score late in the fourth quarter before the Tigers put the game away with a touchdown in the last five minutes of their eventual 24-10 win.